Abstract Vega Island in the Weddell Sea is characterized by a semiarid climate and peculiar soil formation due to its transitional location between warmer and wetter Maritime Antarctica (MA) and drier colder Continental Antarctica (CA). We investigated the main factors and processes involved in soil genesis at Cape Lamb on Vega Island. Thirty pedons were sampled, described and analyzed for morphological, physical, geochemical and mineralogical properties. Twenty-two pedons were classified as Gelisols/Cryosols. Three soil groups were identified: (1) mixed substrates soils (2), acid sulfate soils and (3) basaltic soils. Acid sulfate soils showed the greatest degree of weathering with pronounced acidity due to sulfurization. Basaltic soils were the least developed and presented shallow pedons of skeletic character and high alkalinity. Parent material was the main factor in the differentiation of the studied soils. Climate and landforms were also important. Desert pavement, salinization and ahumic features induced by the semiarid climate, oppose acidification and cryoturbation, characterizing the transitional location of Vega Island. Patterned ground dominates on periglacial highlands, while desert pavements are more common on paraglacial surfaces. Despite the semiarid climate, pedogenesis is active in the studied soils, with clay minerals, sulfate minerals and pedogenic Fe-oxides formation.

中文翻译：

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南极半岛维加岛沉积物和玄武岩的风化和成土作用

摘要 威德尔海的维加岛处于温暖湿润的海洋南极洲 (MA) 和干燥寒冷的南极大陆 (CA) 之间，因此具有半干旱气候和奇特的土壤形成特征。我们调查了维加岛Cape Lamb 土壤发生的主要因素和过程。对 30 个 pedon 进行了采样、描述和分析，以了解其形态、物理、地球化学和矿物学特性。二十二个pedon被归类为凝胶溶胶/冷冻溶胶。确定了三个土壤组：（1）混合基质土壤（2）、酸性硫酸盐土壤和（3）玄武质土壤。由于硫化作用，酸性硫酸盐土壤显示出最大程度的风化和显着的酸性。玄武质土壤是最不发达的，呈现出骨骼特征和高碱度的浅层土壤。母质是研究土壤分化的主要因素。气候和地貌也很重要。半干旱气候导致的沙漠路面、盐渍化和亚腐殖质特征，反对酸化和低温扰动，是维加岛过渡位置的特征。带图案的地面在冰缘高地占主导地位，而沙漠路面在冰缘表面更常见。尽管是半干旱气候，但在所研究的土壤中成土作用很活跃，形成了粘土矿物、硫酸盐矿物和成土的铁氧化物。带图案的地面在冰缘高地占主导地位，而沙漠路面在冰缘表面更常见。尽管是半干旱气候，但所研究的土壤中的成土作用很活跃，形成了粘土矿物、硫酸盐矿物和成土的铁氧化物。带图案的地面在冰缘高地占主导地位，而沙漠路面在冰缘表面更常见。尽管是半干旱气候，但所研究的土壤中的成土作用很活跃，形成了粘土矿物、硫酸盐矿物和成土的铁氧化物。